Get Down On It

Posted on Thu Oct 13th, 2022 @ 3:01pm by Captain Samuel Woolheater & Crewman Adelaide Kirkby & Lieutenant Commander Rin & Consul Andrinn Orin & Lieutenant JG Miraj Derani & Ebi [Rin]

Mission: Season 5: Time Warp
Location: Table Twenty-Two - The Wedding Party
Timeline: Sometime After the Ceremony
6209 words - 12.4 OF Standard Post Measure

[ON:]

Sam and Adele were on the dance floor already. The party had been in full swing for a bit. Sam had changed into some nice casual clothing. A cool cotton shirt and some nice pants and shoes. Very comfortable and he was having the time of his life. Adele was enjoying all of the looks she was getting from the single guys at the party. Woolheater liked to dance and have a good time and it showed. The music was live and it was awesome and the band could play just about any song he could think of. It was just a bit later when Sam and Adele took a break and went to the open bar. Sam spotted an amazingly good looking Lieutenant Rin in an awesome green dress and another person, possibly a guy, in blue and white standing next to her. Sam said, "I know them!"

"Hey? Lieutenant Rin? Wow. You look great!" Sam said enthusiastically. He was happy - and perhaps a little bit drunk - but he had such a smile on his face under that scruffy 5 o'clock shadow. "Lieutenant? This is Crewman Apprentice Adelaide Kirkby. She's helping us out in Marine department. Lieutenant Rin is Chief Intel Officer."

Adelaide had also changed into casual but still very nice clothes. She wore a dark elegant and practical dress that highlighted her trim figure. She smiled and said, "I'm pleased to meet you Lieutenant Rin. That is a gorgeous green dress. It looks so cool on you!"

For a moment, Rin had a deer in the headlights expression as the enthusiastic Marine bounded over to her. But his grin was infectious, and his seemingly sincere excitement was disarming.

"Hello! 'Rin' is fine, off hours." It was easier to hide behind the rank, but she was getting better at being casual, and the wedding celebration seemed a good place to push herself. Especially as she mursed her second drink.

She looked to Kirkby. "And good to meet you. You look lovely as well." She gestured to her companion. "This is Ebi. He's a geneticist who works in the arboretum."

"Lovely to meet you both," Ebi added without Rin's social awkwardness, giving a slight bow as he did so.

"Oooooo--ffffreaky! Genetics, the forbidden science!" Sam teased, "Nice to meet you man." Sam nodded, "I'm dancing my ass off, having a good time. Loving the whole wedding thing. I was about to get a drink? Anybody want a drink?" he asked. "Not for me...well...and Bolian tonic water would be great" Adele answered. Sam nodded and looked at Rin and Ebi. "Join us at a table?"

"Still working on mine, but thanks," Rin replied, holding up a glass of red wine. "And, sure, we can join you!"

"I was actually about to get some air," Ebi added, finishing his drink. "I'll join you in a bit."

--You don't have to go,-- Rin said over her neural interface.

--I know. But you don't need me looming over you all night, and you look like you might actually enjoy their company.--

--That doesn't mean you have to go.--

--And you don't have to lean on me. Be with your friend. I'm going to enjoy the outdoors. Which was the reason you invited me, yes? To see earth?--

The conversation was, of course, silent to Adele and Sam, but Rin's expression was pretty clearly a reaction to something not said aloud.

"So, yes, he's going to get some air. Never been to earth before. Wants to see the outdoors," she over-explained. "So...table? How have you enjoyed things today?"

Sam smiled and said, "Be right back" and he went to the bar. Along the way he did a few dance moves at the edge of the dance floor. Adelaide said, "Our table is over here" and she linked arms and started walking together with Rin. "That really is a nice dress you've got. I don't have the skin tone for anything but a dark green. But it looks good. I'm new to the ship. So I'm really glad Sam invited me to attend the wedding ceremony. I've met so many more of the crew at the party then I do on a day to day on the ship?" She was a delight to be near. Adele was bright and full of life and energy. The table was off to the side of the main dance floor. There was room for four persons and it had a lovely centerpiece with a candle in the middle. Adelaide pulled out a chair and scooted it close and offered Rin a seat. "I'm from Galaxy Station. Part of the clerical pool. I got assigned to the ship and the marine department to help the Colonel. But, I've had many administrative jobs before. I like being able to move around and see lots of different places and people." She was glad she had another female to talk to, "What did you think of the wedding?"

"Oh, I have a friend at Galaxy Station. Commander Debra Villanova, strategic ops. Just recently transferred there from Elysium." Rin let herself be led/dragged over to the table. This was a bit like hanging out with Myne, except more coherent and hopefully without the psychopathic undercurrents.

"I'm...honestly, I'm not sure what to think of the wedding, or weddings in general," Rin said quietly. "I mean, I don't know either of the two people really. The setting is certainly idyllic but....I'm not really the one who should be measuring it. That would be them. They're the ones it's meaningful for. For the rest of us it's just a party. But the party seems to be going pretty good," she clinked glasses with Adelaide and took a long sip. "Sorry, I've gotten philosophical."

Adele laughed joyfully, "Oh no...we can't have that!" and then she said, "I do that too. But, I don't mind it anymore. It's just a part of me that pops its head out from time to time. I'm so glad I'm not alone."

Rin spied Miraj entering the hall. Rin raised her hand and waved, motioning for the pilot come and join the table.

The young half-human changed course away from the buffet towards the XB, being careful to not drop her rather large glass of something green, garnished with umbrellas and fruit and a sparkler burning down. "hello again, Ma'am," she said brightly. She didn't recognize the other woman, so she offered a cheery wave. "Hi! I'm Miraj."

Adelaide smiled back and waved back. She pulled a chair out for her and offered it.

"Rin's fine. This is Crewman Kirkby, and Lt. Woolheater should be on his way back in a few. How are you doing? And should we be expecting Neri?"

"She said she was going to catch up with some people from security. I'm sure she'll be around later." Miraj said, taking a long slurp of her Voodoo Zombie Prince, the different rums making her head swirl.

Adelaide said, "Hi Miraj, please call me Adele. I like your drink. Especially the sparkler." Adele noticed her pink hair, her radiance and her energy. "You have such...I don't know....a radiance about you!" she said genuinely. Adelaide loved meeting new people and getting to know them. She was so happy to be here and getting to make new friends.

When Samuel's drinks were ready, he somehow, managed to get all of them in his two hands. In one hand were the beer bottles and a deliciously brown liquid, on the rocks with a lemon, oh yes, that would be the whiskey sour. In his other hand he carried Adele's foo-foo Bolian tonic water, a wine stem with something blue that seemed to glow and somehow, another bottle of a marine favorite, 'Devil Dogs Beer: Let sleeping dogs drink'. He maneuvered his way, shaking his booty as he went onto the dance floor and skillfully worked in a few, careful, dance moves on the floor. Not spilling a drop as he approached the table. "Woo hoo!! The party is growing huh? What did I do to deserve a table full of ladies? Thirsty anyone?" he said as he handed the foo-foo Bolian water to Adele. She said, "Oh....thank you....let me help you? How did you manage this?" Sam set the drink down and took a seat, "Years of practice I suppose? Miraj, good to see you again! Cheers everybody!" he raised a beer bottle up to clink glasses with everyone.

Miraj rescued the sparkler, still spurting off little bits of burning iron filings, from her cocktail and held her glass out. "The bride and groom, and all that jazz!"

Sam agreed, "To the bride and groom!"

When the toast was over, Adele said, "Isn't this a great wedding party? The ceremony was so elegant and pretty? What did you think of it Sam?"

He finished taking a drink and said, "Oh hell yeah. Beautiful thing. They're a good couple and you can see that they just compliment each other. I hope it works out."

Adele asked, "What do you mean you hope it works out?"

Sam apologized, "I just mean...I hope it works out. They both have tough jobs, they're responsible for a lot and now they live together. That's all." Before Adele could say anything, some music started, "Get Down On It" by Kool & the Gang. Sam's blue-green eyes lit up, "OOOOO!! I love this song. C'mon? somebody join me on the dance?"

"I don't feel so bad about my answer about weddings now," Rin said to Adele with a grin.

Adele rolled her eyes at his answer and squeezed Rin's hand in understanding.

Then she looked at Sam. "Um...sure?" she downed the last of her wine and headed out to the dance floor. She wasn't familiar with the song, but it was easy enough to get into rhythm with.

This was much more comfortable than her previous dance outing. Sam was...a friend? At least someone she knew. And the invitation was casual; there was no expectation, and no outside force trying to pressure her into it. This was nice. Dare she say, this was even fun.

She was glad she had dressed in civvies. All these people on the dance floor wearing dress uniform were going to be cooking by the end of the night. Her heels, on the other hand, as short as they were, were still an impractical choice.

Miraj skipped up next to her, testing the surface of the dance floor with a toe. Not too sticky yet. "Maybe I should have bought some shoes," she grinned at Rin, bobbing along awkwardly off beat to the music. "Ebi not coming to dance?"

Rin considered Miraj's bare feet a long moment before kicking her own uncomfortable shoes off at the edge of the dancefloor.

"Ebi thinks I use him as a social crutch, which isn't entirely wrong," Rin explained as she went back to dancing. "He's familiar. I understand how he works, and him me. I can feel him in the back of my head. It's comforting. I can have a dozen people around me, but it still feels isolating without that sense. But I need to socialize more, so he's off studying shrubbery or something."

"Woooooooooo!!!" Sam said as he clapped to the music and shook his money-maker. He made a face and reached for the hands of each pretty lady. Both Rin and Miraj, one hand each and he gently, enticingly pulled them back into the dance floor. "Whatcha gonna do?" he sang along to the music. That smile he had was both sexy and inviting and the guy could bust a move. "Woooooo! Yeah girl! Get down on it, get down it!" he sang as he danced with both Rin and Miraj.

As the bass line and the music found its groove, Sam fell right into it. He was thoroughly enjoying the company. The beat of the music and the rhythm. He knew how to dance and he knew how to make his dance partner the star. People were turning heads to look at how Rin and Miraj were dancing. They were nodding and smiling to the beat. But Samuel had a bigger, mischievous bad boy grin. "Whatcha gonna do? Take a chance - yeah beautiful! Do you wanna get down?" he sang and snapped his fingers. He nodded his head and danced to the beat making provocative dance moves with his muscled arms and body. As the song ended, he laughed and said, "My god, you look great."

Without Sam's guidance now the music was over, Miraj managed to trip over her own feet and stumbled into Rin, grabbing for the ex-Borg to try and keep both of them upright. "Sorry! Sorry" she squeaked, managing to right herself. "He's right, you do. Do we need drinks? I need a drink. Where has my rum gone?"

Sam agreed, "I need something" he said and followed them off the dance floor and back to the tables. He sat down and took a swig of a cold beer and a bite of some finger food. "Let's play a game? What's a game we can all play? We ain't got no cards so I guess strip poker is out?" He smiled buoyantly and with a tease.

Adele said, "Something tells me that wouldn't be a good idea." As she said that, a love song came on. The live band was taking a short break and while they had a short rest, a hologram of Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong performing "Dream a Little Dream of Me" in glorious black and white hologram was played. Sam's eyes got wide, "Aww, hell's yes!" He said to Adele, "C'mon? You want to dance with me?" She said, "I'm not very good." Sam rolled his eyes, "Aww...who cares? I don't know how either. Not knowing how to do something has never stopped me before and it sure as hell ain't going to now." He stood up and extended his hand. She looked at Rin and Miraj and then accepted, "OK." Sam escorted her to the dance floor and then they slow danced to the music.

Andrinn had found himself back at the party, wearing a more casual attire than he had been beforehand. He had beamed back up to the ship and grabbed something from the ship before beaming back down for the rest of the evening.

As he found himself back at a gathering of several crewmembers, Andrinn walked over to the DJ and asked him to play something from Trill that was still with the rhythm of the music they had been playing beforehand. But, Andrinn wanted to change it up. As the DJ switched it up, Andrinn smiled as he heard music from his own world.

As the music ended, Sam heard a familiar voice and some new music.

Andrinn walked out onto the dancefloor and found Adelaide and said, "Nice to see you here."

Adele smiled warmly to him, "Consul Orin. So glad to see you here too. You're looking more relaxed now." She nodded to Sam who said, "Well hey there! Isn't this a great party? You made it back into the fray."

"Glad to be here honestly. I didn't get the comms about it until just a little bit ago. Would you guys like to go find a table? Cause I think I see someone holding down the fort for us!" Andrinn said, offering up the way to Sam and Adelaide.

BACK AT TABLE TWENTY-TWO

After having danced to some new, at least new to him, Trill music, Sam, Adele with newly found Andrinn returned to the table that they had reserved. There was a big pitcher of iced tea on the table with a lump of sliced lemons and a try of ice with fresh, clean glasses. Sam pulled in another chair for Andrinn and then held a seat out for Adelaide. She took a seat with Sam on one side and Andrinn on the other. Sam poured a few glasses of iced tea and said, "Rin? Miraj? Please meet the Chief Diplomat for the Elysium, Andrinn Orin."

Andrinn simply waved, as he knew Rin already, but didn't know the person that was joining them this evening.

Miraj raised her huge cocktail, "Hi, I'm Miraj!"

"I'm Andrinn, the new CDO as this goofball likes to point out. It's very nice to meet you and Rin, it's always good to see you, my diplomatic friend," Andrinn said, slapping Sam in the shoulder.

Sam said, "I know. Let's play a game? When was the last time anybody here played a good old-fashioned round of 'Yo Mama'?"

"I don't think I know that one?" Miraj replied."

Adelaide made a face, "EEhhmmmm....let's play something more interesting. Something that we can all agree on?" Adele looked around at the girls and got a wicked grin. Samuel had recovered enough from the blue drink and was his usual self again. "Let's play never have I ever?" She looked at her friends and asked, "Shall I start us off then?"

Miraj nodded, "I can play that." she knew she wouldn't be drinking much. The last time she'd played, back at the academy, it had been embarrassing how little she'd drunk. "You go first."

Adele thought a moment and said, "Well, first we're going to need shots of something. Or are we going to be good for this game and not make a scene?" Sam looked at her like, "Why are you looking at me?"

"I'm only counting things from the last 17 years....although I promise not to abuse the fact that I have no recollection of childhood," Rin clarified as she finished the last of her wine. "Lets try not to make a scene. This is a wedding celebration, after all. If there's a scene to be made, it shouldn't be us."

Sam smiled and looked at Rin, "Wise, wise words. OK? So how do we play this thing?" Adele explained it to him. "And this is fun?", Sam asked. Adele said, "It can be. Give it a chance Sam?" She mockingly pleaded and before he could say anything she launched into the game, "OK. So, we have iced tea. If you did the thing the other person never has, then you take a shot. OK, here goes. Never have I ever...called in sick to work when I was never sick."

Sam looked and said, "Well, neither have I."

Miraj kept her hands off her drink. "I don't think I've been at work long enough to get sick. Still not a year out of the Academy."

"Oh dear, I didn't mean avoid alcohol when I said not make a scene." Rin clarified. "And no, I've never called in sick when I wasn't sick. Never have I ever...gone on a date."

Sam answered Lieutenant Rin with, "I've probably had enough tonight of real alcohol. Plus all my superior officers are here. It wouldn't be good to have to be escorted out and wake up in the 'drunk tank' at the local Jail. I'm good. I might still be fun sober?" he winked playfully and smiled.

Miraj grinned and chugged a good fingers worth of her Zombie Prince. "It went sideways real fast, and lasted all of seven minutes before he turned into a weirdo, but it still counts." She looked at everyone else to see if anyone hadn't drunk.

"Whoa?" Sam hoped he didn't say that out loud. He then took a drink of iced tea. "I've been on...a few." He self-censored the rest of that commentary.

Adele said, "And....your turn. Tell us something that you've never ever done. And it has to be true."

He laughed, rolled his eyes and thought. "Never have I ever...worn women's clothing."

"I'll refrain from challenging you to define "mens" and "womens" clothing in this day and age," Rin said with a smirk before she dutifully took a drink.

Miraj looked at Sam, "your just trying to get us all drunk now." she said as she gulped down another fingers worth of rum cocktail.

He suppressed a smile, he tried to at least and his eyebrows went up innocently, "Me? I don't even know how to play this game."

Miraj twisted the end of one of her bunches, thinking "Never have I ever... failed an academy exam." She toasted the group and drank again.

"Son of a gun," Andrinn said before taking a sip of his own drink and realized that he didn't pass an exam in 'Theory of Diplomatic Talks,' as he found the subject to be too structured and failed on the first try.

San took a drink, a shot of tea, "I failed Astrometrics...like...three times. I just barely passed on the fourth time. I don't know; I just don't get it."

Adele put her hand on his shoulder, "It's OK. You're good at other things. I failed zero-g training. Never passed it in fact." She took a drink of her wine.

Miraj nodded, "I failed both of those the first time too."

Andrinn raised a glass and offered up his one for the group. "Never have I ever had to do any sort of cadet cruise or anything similar," Andrinn said with a smile on his face as he never had to do a cadet cruise, since he had years experience as a diplomat by the time he joined Starfleet.

Sam took another shot of tea, "Well, I guess you got the group pretty much beat there?" Adele nodded and also took a drink. "My first cadet cruise was aboard the USS Texas. I remember thinking that there just couldn't be anything bigger than a Galaxy-class ship. But that was my first cadet cruise."

Miraj was feeling really buzzed now as she drank yet again. "USs Andrinn, a promethean class, but had a glitch, kept wanting to sepeerate at inooprtune moments. Like in Warp."

Sam laughed out loud, "Oh man! That'll put a dent in your day. Hahahaha! Hey? Where's the bridge? Where's the engines? Hahaha!" He heard her slurred words and realized that by properly asking questions, one could potentially manipulate the game to ones advantage. At the same time, he realized that he didn't want to covertly take advantage of the situation. By remaining sober and in control of one's self; the upper hand was theirs. He also reasoned that these were friends and the point was to have fun. He put the brakes on just a little. "Well....I've never gotten my wings. I've never been certified to fly anything other than a simulator."

"If this game never gets past Academy I'm going to drink you all under the table," Rin quipped.

Sam said, "OK, more interesting questions. Hmmm...Never have I ever...told someone to show me yours and I'll show you mine and then cheat and run away."

"Do what?" Miraj asked

Sam shrugged and sheepishly grinned as he remembered the incident he had in mind. "You know...the ol' flash and dash? You never got asked to...y'know? Take a peek?"

Miraj just looked at him in utter, if slightly unfocused, confusion.

He lowered his head and said in a hushed voice, "You know...meet behind the barn or wherever...Miraj!" He couldn't believe it, "And...pull down your pants and let the girl see...y'know...your thingy." He rolled his eyes, "Well, it happened to me."

Understanding dawned with a soft blush growing across her cheeks. "Oh! er no. I don't need to drink."

"That's....weirdly specific," Rin said with a smirk. "Never have I ever pranked a superior officer."

Sam took a drink. "So? It's a prank ye be wanting ay?" he said with a satisfied grin.

Adele said, "Never have I ever stood someone up on a date."

Sam's eyes had an annoyed look but he took another drink of tea, "I was seventeen. I didn't know she had a crush. I didn't know."

Andrinn took a sip of his own drink before looking around. "What? It was Freshman Year at the academy and he was a weird Andorian. Don't hate on a brother. But, never have I ever...had intimate relations with the opposite sex....I'm a gold star gay?"

Miraj sighed, but didn't touch her drink.

Sam sat forward and looked over at him, "None of your previous hosts? Because there's you Andrinn and then there's you...Orin. So...which 'you' are we talking about?"

Andrinn just winked at Sam before replying. "None of the three hosts of the Orin symbiant were straight. The second host was a bit testy, but he....was also very interested in the same sex. So, I'm truly what they call a gold star gay, as the Humans call it," Andrinn said with a smile on his face.

Rin also does not touch her drink.

Sam took a swig and finished his tea, it was just two or three swallows, he wasn't trying to show off or anything. "Really?!" Sam said as he looked at Rin and Miraj. "Now we're getting interesting" he said. Adelaide pretended to look around the room and then ending up in Sam's general direction. She said, "I still don't see the guests of honor anywhere." She wished she was telepathic, she knew that he was going to say something and she didn't want the evening ruined. Adele had brothers and she knew that they often spoke before thinking. She saw the grin on his face and all she could do was meet his eyes with a firm look. He kept the grin, it softened some and he didn't say a thing. As he poured another glass of tea for himself, Adele took a drink of her wine.

"So...tell ya a story. Graduation day. I'm fresh out of boot camp. Parris Island, we get our assignments, where we will do our first tour. And I already know that I have to go and do more scout/sniper training at Quantico. And I'll never see most of my platoon again. Probably. People get tats, they get wasted and have a good time. As good a time as you can have on a 48-hour pass. We do a bar crawl, guys from my platoon. It's way after 0200 and its like - the fifth bar. I'm feeling pretty - lit y'know? And I see this really pretty lady. And, I wouldn't mind some company...turns out she was a he. Also, icing on the cake was that he was Ondatan...they can switch genders, y'know? Depending on...IDK...I guess their mood? Well, she...I mean he, didn't 'switch'. I didn't find that part out until we....it was a short evening. A bit of a surprise you know? And now that you've heard that story, I better not hear of it again. 'Cause I know exactly where it came from."

Adele had a good laugh at his expense. She looked at Andrinn and reached for his hand and then turning to Sam she said, "The game is still on Lieutenant. Can you turn that into a 'Never-Have-I-Ever?' "

Sam sad, "Never have I ever...had same sex intimates."

Andrinn looked over at Sam and just gave him a dirty look for a moment before taking a sip of his own drink.

Rin smirked as her drink stubbornly remained on the table. "Never been on a date. Never had sex with any gender. Always amused when people find that weird. Not sure if I just haven't met the the right person or am just not interested. Why do people find that so interesting?"

His smile, his Cheshire grin faded slowly away. Just like the music from the band that ended this particular song. There was a bit of awkwardness and he felt their eyes on him. And he said, quite honestly, "Sex...feels good. I like it. I like feeling good. I like how it makes me feel, wanted. I like how I can meet her needs and how she meets mine. I want to be touched; just a little. From time to time. Sometimes, my job makes me do terrible things. Monstrous.
Things. I am the monster. But, then, I come home and even after I did those terrible things there she is...and she still loves me."

Adele looked at him with compassion; she knew who he was talking about.

He shrugged. "Anyway, what do I know? I don't know...its the tiniest piece that they can't take away. Even if it is in just thirty-minute increments. We all want to be loved. I think so, deep down. Who loves us first? Our moms and our dads." He didn't dare lift his eyes just yet, but he knew enough that it felt like they were staring at him, this table. He felt like he needed alcohol, he drummed his fingers and said, "Hey, I'm going to get some real booze. Imperial Whiskey. My old man used to drink that shit all the time. I'll be back." And he was on his feet.


Sam stood at the bar, not long, he had a loud voice and he knew how to work the bar, "CAN I GET A WHISKEY? IMPERIAL IF YOU GOT IT? THAT'S THE ONE....oh man, NAH - NAH - THE BOTTLE. WHOLE THING. WHAT'S THAT? CANT GIVE ME THE BOTTLE? HOW ABOUT....A HALF A BOTTLE. CAN YOU DO THAT? YEAH? OK LINE 'EM UP SIX IN A ROW." He said the bartender. It would be many years later, found in a medical textbook, that one Samuel R. Woolheater had the galaxy's hardest working liver.

Sam downed the six-shots in traditional six-shooter style and with a marine flair. Now that the bottle was half empty, the bartender handed it over to him. "MASTER NEGOTIATOR. NEXT STOP, DIPLOMATIC CORPS!" ~Oh boy...ok find the table bud.~

Sam returned from a loud bar and a hail of applause. He looked at Adele, "What?" as she gave him 'the look'.

"People are interested in all the wrong things. And you two, how...you're both beautiful ladies. How in the hell...just don't be so hard on yourself right? Just have a good time. Just go with the flow. Whatever. Nobody's here on purpose, nobody has all the answers. Just enjoy life." He said with the logic and clarity of six shots of Imperial Whiskey.

"I assume it wasn't always that way," Rin continued. "I used to be married, but I have no recollection of it, thus my original caveat I'm only covering the 17 years I remember. Pretty much came back as a blank slate."

Which wasn't *technically* true. She could remember time as a drone, but she didn't need to remind people of that. This was a *party*, after all, and this was a game among new friends.

Miraj made no move towards her drink either, but she was more concerned for Rin's loss "That's awful. Can Starfleet not help you find out who they were?"

"Hmmm?" Rin was momentarily confused by the question. "Oh, no! I know who he is. We're friends. We're good friends. I just don't remember our time together. And he remarried a long time ago to a lovely woman who's always been supportive of the situation. When I was identified through DNA, they notified my ex and my parents. I'm good there, I promise."

"But this is a party, and Borg are buzz-kills, so no more of that tonight. Also probably not the best topic if I get drunk. Which is never going to happen the way this game is going," Rin added, knocking back a shot.

"The Borg. Sounds Swedish" Sam said.

Miraj was eyeing her zombie longingly. "Okay then. I have never...farted on the bridge." She grabbed her drink. "Bottoms up!"

Miraj was eyeing her zombie longingly. "Okay then. I have never...farted on the bridge." She grabbed her drink. "Bottoms up!"

Adele gasped at the surprise response. Sam just grinned and snorted a laugh, "I've never even been on the bridge, so I'm good on this one." He turned to Adele, "C'mon, you're most embarrassing moment share it with us?" She looked at him and said, "That'll be the day! OK. Never have I ever...umm...stolen something from somebody."

Sam rolled his eyes, "You mean...like...ever? In your whole life?"

"Yes" Adele said, "in my whole life. Never have I ever stolen something that didn't belong to me."

Sam said, "PPPffff!" And took a shot of whiskey. "Aww hell, nuts to this y'all. Really? This is fun for anybody? This is supposed to be a party and we're here uncovering deep dark secrets. It's bumming me out. Or....maybe I don't know how to play it? It ain't fun, for me. Can we do something else? Let's go dancing yeah? This game sounds like something they made up in the Counseling department. Tell you what - you all do what you want. If its fun for you then by all means - " he took another shot of whiskey " - my ass is going dancing." He stood up, "Anybody else want to join me?"

Adele said, "I'm good. We'll be here; have fun." He looked at Rin, Miraj and Andrinn, "Anybody else?"

"I'm good here," Rin responded to Adele. Then she looked to Sam. "Enjoy the dancing, but...you might want to cut yourself off."

He put the cap back on the Imperial Whiskey and tightened it down, "Suggestion noted" he said. He grinned back happily, a new set of music started from the band and Sam clapped his hands, snapped his fingers and got into the groove and hit the dance floor.

Adele watched him go to the dance floor, she looked at the bottle of Imperial Whiskey. "Excuse me just a sec?" She got up from her chair, took the bottle and dropped it into the trash-ola. She came back to the table and sat down again, "Now, where were we?"

She smiled and looked at Orin, "Andrinn? Would you do me a favor? Would you find Sam and stay with him until the party is over? I'm a little tired and I think I'm going to head back to the cabin. But I'm worried about him."

Hearing Adele walk up beside him and hearing her speak, Andrinn smiled and replied, "Yeah, I can do that. Do you know which way he went off to?"

"He went dancing again; to the dance floor. Thank you Consul. I'm glad you are here. You're a good friend" she said.

"Okay, I'll head over there and make sure that he's okay for the rest of the night. You know that man can drink us all down too," Andrinn said with a small chuckle before squeezing Adele's arm gently.

Walking over to Sam, Andrinn had a new drink in his hand. He got one before leaving Adele, the bar, and walking towards the group. He didn't say much, just listening.

Andrinn actually loved to listen, for that's how you learn more about a person or group of people. You listen to their stories and actively listen to what they're talking about. So, Andrinn smiled and listened.

Adele said to Rin and Miraj, "You know something? It just now occurred to me how hard it must have been for Lieutenant Woolheater to be here. I am even beginning to realize that was probably the whole reason he asked me to be here. What I mean is, and please don't share this around, a while back he lost his fiancé. He was in love with a woman and she died in a terrible way. And, you know, all this time, at the ceremony, I thought he was just being, I don't know, obstinate or needlessly difficult; I wonder now if that's because this whole beautiful day was just one big reminder of the life with her he'll never have? In a way, kind of like what happened to you Rin? You were also robbed of your life and your spouse too. I don't know but, there were clues all day. And I feel so stupid just now putting them all together." She looked at them both.

"It's not your job to protect him from things he won't talk about," Rin replied kindly.

Adele said, "I know what will make us feel better. Come with me and see the cabin? Mattias and Captain Phoenix reserved a cabin for the Lieutenant. Sam gave it to me as a thank you for coming with him today. Come and see it with me? Maybe you'd like to stay with me overnight? It's so beautiful here and I'll have the whole cabin to share. What do you say girls?"

"Thank you, but I have my own cabin as well," Rin replied.

Miraj looked guilty. "I came in Queen Anne, gonna shleep there too. Sorry."

"Oh drat! It's a shame to let it go to waste. I suppose, tonight, I'll be Queen of the Cabin" she said cheerily and happy.


[OFF:]


Ensign Miraj Derani &
Lieutenant Rin & Ebi &
Consul Andrinn Orin
-Signed off by Woolheater

&

Lieutenant Samuel Woolheater